Sterilization and Disinfection
Sterilization is defined as the process where all the living microorganisms,
including bacterial spores are killed. Sterilization can be achieved by physical,
chemical and physiochemical means.
Disinfection is the process of elimination of most pathogenic microorganisms
(excluding bacterial spores) on inanimate objects. Disinfection can be achieved
by physical or chemical methods. Chemicals used in disinfection are called
disinfectants. Different disinfectants have different target ranges, not all
disinfectants can kill all
microorganisms. Some methods of disinfection such as filtration do not kill
bacteria, they separate them out.
Sterilization is an absolute condition while disinfection is not. The two are not
synonymous.
Decontamination is the process of removal of contaminating pathogenic
microorganisms from the articles by a process of sterilization or disinfection. It is
the use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate, or destroy living
organisms on a surface so that the organisms are no longer infectious.